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Shooting at Job Lots

ST. JOHNSBURY, VT - Omar Rodriguez, 35, of St. Johnsbury, found himself behind bars following a shooting in the Job Lots parking lot in St. Johnsbury Monday. He is being held at the Northeast Community Correctional Center on $150,000 bail. Rodriguez faces charges of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping, assault and robbery, interference with access to medical treatment, and violation of a relief from abuse order.Around 9:30 PM Monday, Vermont State Police troopers were notified that Omar Rodriguez had assaulted Steve Rodimon in the parking lot of Ocean State Job Lots in the Town of St. Johnsbury, VT, as Rodimon was getting off work.Troopers and the St. Johnsbury Police Department responded to the Green Mountain Mall and found evidence of a shooting. Based on information gathered at the scene, police concluded that Rodriguez shot Rodimon and had kidnapped Rodimon and Tina Evans, who was also leaving work at the same time. It was believed that Rodriguez forced Evans to drive Rodimon's car.Detectives learned that Rodriguez had telephoned several people and told them what he had done. A search was conducted along the Vermont/New Hampshire border by the Vermont State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, St. Johnsbury Police and the New Hampshire State Police. During the search, police were in contact with Rodriguez by telephone and encouraged him to turn himself in.When New Hampshire police located the Rodimon vehicle in New Hampshire, they gave chase, but Rodriguez would not let Evans stop and the car was pursued back into Vermont where the vehicle was finally stopped near the P&H Truck Stop off I-91 South.After a brief standoff, Rodriguez was arrested. By then, it was 2 AM. Rodimon was taken by DART helicopter to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center where he was treated for gunshot wounds. Evans was also transported for a medical evaluation.